The Peruvian government is extending its anti-crime emergency measures to two more Lima districts.
These are Cercado de Lima and Lince. Alberto Otárola, the Council of Ministers President, made the announcement.
The extension will last for 60 days starting October 11. Its goal is to protect people and businesses from crimes like human trafficking and extortion.
Earlier, Dina Boluarte, the country’s leader, said that previous emergency measures are working.
Specifically in districts San Juan de Lurigancho and San Martín de Porres. Because of this, national police will now oversee security in the new districts.
They’ll get support from the Armed Forces. Interior Minister Vicente Romero offered some context.
He said Cercado de Lima has the second-highest crime rate after San Juan de Lurigancho. Lince, on the other hand, has several hotspots for human trafficking.
Romero also shared some good news. Crime in San Martín de Porres has dropped by 22%, and by 20% in San Juan de Lurigancho.
These drops show that the emergency measures are effective.
Initially, the government had declared an emergency in two Lima districts and seven in northern Piura.
This was due to rising insecurity. During the emergency, some constitutional rights will be temporarily paused.
These include freedoms like staying in your home and moving freely.
Background
The move to extend emergency measures comes amid growing public concern over safety in Peru.
Crime rates have spiked in recent years, causing distress among local communities and businesses.
Prior emergency measures in San Juan de Lurigancho and San Martín de Porres showed positive effects, which likely influenced this new expansion.
The inclusion of the Armed Forces is notable and suggests that the situation is severe enough to go beyond regular policing.
This isn’t unprecedented; Peru has a history of military involvement in civil matters, especially during states of emergency.